Salvia nemorosa plant named ‘Sixteen Candles’

ABSTRACT

A new, distinct  Salvia nemorosa  plant as shown and described, characterized by the combination of purple stems, deep pink flowers, and purple calyxes compared to the seed parent.

Latin name: Salvia nemorosa.

Cultivar name: ‘Sixteen Candles’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid of Salvianemorosa plant named ‘Sixteen Candles’ characterized by the combinationof purple stems, deep pink flowers, and purple calyxes compared to theseed parent. The new Salvia nemorosa was raised as a seedling from openpollinated seed sown from the seed parent Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’,not patented, in Hebron, Ill. in 2009. The selection of the new plantwas due to its' mostly un-branched and upright purple stems, deep-pinkflower spikes, and purple calyxes compared to the seed parent. Initialasexual reproduction has taken place at a nursery in Hebron, Ill. since2014 by means of division, and vegetative cuttings. The new Salvianemorosa has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction to theparent after rooting over 1000 plants from 2014 to 2019. No plants ofthe new Salvia nemorosa have been sold in this country, or anywhere inthe world, prior to the filing of this application, nor has anydisclosure of the new plant been made prior to the filing of thisapplication with the exception of that which was disclosed by theinventor and his company, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc within oneyear of filing of this application and was derived directly from theinventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia nemorosa plant named ‘Sixteen Candles’ characterized bymostly un-branched and upright purple stems, deep-pink flower spikes,and purple calyxes compared to the seed parent have been observed to beunique and stable. For purpose of comparison the new plant will bereferred to as ‘Sixteen Candles’.

Plants of ‘Sixteen Candles’ can be compared to the seed parent plant ofSalvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, not patented. 1. The ‘Sixteen Candles’plant is shorter growing to 33-36 cm while Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’grows to 60 cm. 2. The ‘Sixteen Candles’ plant has a flower color ofmostly N78 A, B & C while Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ has a flower colorof N88 A.

Plants of ‘Sixteen Candles’ can also be compared to a pink floweredSalvia nemorosa, ‘Pink Profusion’ U.S. Pat. No. 31,435, patented. 1. The‘Sixteen Candles’ plant is shorter growing to 33-36 cm while Salvianemorosa ‘Pink Profusion’ grows to 41 cm. 2. The ‘Sixteen Candles’ planthas a flower color of N78 A,B & C while Salvia nemorosa ‘Pink Profusion’has a flower color of 77A and 77B.

Plants of ‘Sixteen Candles’ can also be compared to another pinkflowered Salvia nemorosa, ‘Sensation Rose’ U.S. Pat. No. 18,230,patented. 1. The ‘Sixteen Candles’ plant is taller growing to 33-36 cmwhile Salvia nemorosa ‘Sensation Rose’ grows to 27 cm. 2. The ‘SixteenCandles’ plant has a flower color of N78 A,B & C while Salvia nemorosa‘Sensation Rose’ has a flower color of 75 A.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Plants pictured in the drawing were grown for two years.

FIG. 1. Close up of the flower stems.

FIG. 2. A group of potted plants.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). Plants used for thedescription were grown for two years. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

PLANT

-   Botanical classification: Salvia nemorosa L.-   Form: Globular shape.-   Height: 33-36 cm from soil to top of flowers; 38 cm wide.-   Growth: Herbaceous perennial, broad upright, moderate vigor.    -   -   Roots.—Fine, compact, dense, freely branching, white.-   Stem:    -   -   Form.—Quadrangular, strong.        -   Color.—Yellow-green, close to at the base 145 A at the top            half N77 C, being speckled and becoming more purple at the            inflorescence with both colors at times.        -   Pubescence.—Densely covered with short grayish white hairs,            about 0.2 mm long, more so on the bottom half of the stem.-   Branching:    -   -   Form.—Branching from base, no pinching required.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Length.—36 cm.        -   Internode length.—3-4 cm.        -   Quantity.—About 40 flowering lateral branches.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Number of leaves per branch.—22, 11 pairs.        -   Number of leaves per secondary branch.—8-36 leaves, 4-18            pair.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 6 cm on average, shorter at tops of            stems. Width: 2-3 cm.        -   Shape of leaf.—Lanceolate.        -   Shape of tip.—Acute.        -   Shape of base.—Rounded to slightly attenuate.        -   Texture.—Rugose.        -   Pubescence.—Very dense rugose hairs, light grayish-white,            less than 0.1 mm long on underside of main vein.        -   Margin type.—Crenate.        -   Color.—Young and Mature leaves: Upper surface: 146 A. Lower            surface: close to 191 A.        -   Petioles.—Length: 2 cm on average for lower leaves; 1 cm or            less on average for other leaves. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: 147            C.        -   Veins.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: close to            147 C. Lower surface: 147 C.-   Durability: Highly durable to stresses; when crushed, foliage    spreads typical sage odor.-   Response time to flower: About 10 months when grown in the    containers.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Continuous from June into July with some    rebloom in September.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Branched rarely or lightly, terminal    verticillaster, labiate, no fragrance, flower lasts about one week    on plant, self-cleaning.-   Rate of flower opening: About 25% of flowers open at once, all    flowers open in about 4 weeks.-   Number of flowers: About 156 per spike.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—1.5-2 cm.        -   Height.—15 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—17 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Mostly green 145 A with parts close to 191 A.        -   Orientation.—Upright with secondary peduncles at 30°.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Labiate with one upper lip and one            3-lobed lower lips having one main lobe and two smaller side            lobes.        -   Size.—11 mm long; 10 mm wide.        -   Margin.—Entire upper lip; 3-lobed lower lip.        -   Tip shape.—Emarginate upper lip; rounded lower lip.        -   Length.—Average upper lip: 3 mm; average lower lip: 2 mm.        -   Width.—Average upper lip: 1 mm; average lower lip: 3+ mm.        -   Petal quantity.—2, fused at base.        -   Petal apex shape.—Upper lip; broad elliptic; folded; lower            lip spathulate.        -   Texture.—Numerous bristly glandular hairs on outside of            upper lip, same color as upper lip, less than 0.1 mm long.        -   Aspect.—Drooping.        -   Petaloids.—None.-   Color:    -   -   Upper lip.—When opening: Upper surface: N78 C. Lower            surface: N78 C. Fully opened: Lower surface: base is near            white.        -   Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: N78 A. Lower surface:            N78 A. Fully opened Lower surface is near white.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—N77 A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—5 sepals fused into a tube at 60% of the            length; 3 upper sepals fused nearly at the tips; 2 lower            sepals fused nearly at the tips.        -   Height.—7 mm.        -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptic with acute tip and crenate base.            Size: Average 5 mm long; 1 mm wide. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Grayish hairs; less than 0.2 mm long. Color: Outer surface:            N79 B at the top half. Inner surface: from the tips down            N79 B. Bracts: 2 bracts 6 mm width and 8 mm length under            each whorl of flowers; deltoid shape with apiculate tip;            upper surface 77 A lower surface 77 A.        -   Odor.—Present in petals and sepals, scent same as foliage.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—5 mm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Basifixed, elliptic. Length: 1 mm. Color:            whitish.        -   Pollen.—Color: white; too little to determine color. Amount:            Very low.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—One.        -   Length.—12 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 12 mm. Color: N78 A,B & C at the top half            fading to white at the base.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Cleft (2 parted). Color: N77 A. Ovary color:            initially green close to 139 D.-   Seeds and fruits: Yes brown and round 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide,    color 200 B.-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases or    pests has been noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerate to heat at least up to 30° C. and    cool at least down to USDA Zone 5.

I claim:
 1. A new, distinct Salvia nemorosa plant as shown anddescribed, characterized by the combination of purple stems, deep pinkflowers, and purple calyxes compared to the seed parent.